External evidence, including Herbert's entry in his records and the 1640 quarto, assigns the play to Fletcher alone. The play's internal evicence of style and textual preferences confirms Fletcher's solo authorship: "Fletcher's sole responsibility for it has never been questioned."[2]

This Comedy was the sole production of Fletcher, and one of the last written by him. According to Sir William Herbert's office-book, it was licenced for exhibition the 19th of October, 1624, about a year before the poet's death. The first edition was printed in quarto, in the year 1640, with the following title: "Rule a Wife and Have a Wife. A Comedy. Acted by his Majesties Servants. Written by John Fletcher, Gent. Oxford, Printed by Leonard Lichfield, Printer to the University. Anno 1640."---The works of Beaumont and Fletcher. 1812.